Remembering Our Friend and Partner: Officer Guan

In a department this big, you are bound to work with all kinds of partners. Some are good; others are better. But few will have a positive impact like the late Security Officer Carmelito Guan. Mention the name “Guan” to anyone at Southwest College and they will likely smile.

Sadly, Officer Guan passed away last month. He is survived by his wife and son and will definitely be missed by all at the Community College Bureau.

Officer Guan was hired in 2006 and worked at Southwest College since day one. His positive attitude and passion for life were infectious. Officer Guan’s partners took the time to write a little about what he meant to his work family, and I’m honored to share that with you:

We here at L.A. Southwest Community College think of each other as family, or what Nakila calls “Ohana.” So when we got the call that Guan had passed, it hurt our hearts knowing we had lost one of our own.

Guan has worked here at L.A. Southwest College since 2006. In his early years here at Southwest, Guan loved patrolling the campus either on the County Bicycle or the T-three, a very sociable and kind individual. Guan loved his Southwest family, especially Officer Perea, who he joked around with every day. Guan liked to remind Perea that he was better-looking, much smarter, better at qualifying with his gun, stronger physically, and he loved to remind him who had more money in their wallet. But even though Guan loved to harass Perea, he was always the first to help Perea when in need. Guan was generous when it came to giving. He loved spoiling his Southwest family — he bought us all Baskin-Robbins ice cream once a month, he loved buying us lunches and we loved eating it.

Security Officer Carmelito Guan

Guan loved his own family as well. He talked a lot about his sons and wife, and he adored his grandchildren. Guan comes from a family of 12. With six brothers and six sisters, Guan was number four in that lineup. The last few months of Guan’s life he had been sick, but he still came to work. Though he was sent home several times because of medical reasons, Guan was stubborn and refused to retire. He told me that he would rather be here at work than at home doing nothing but feeling sick. The last thing I remember Guan saying was sweet and memorable: We here at Southwest were celebrating with Cadet Botts, who was leaving us for the Security Officer Academy. Everyone was giving their well wishes and when it was Guan’s turn, he said, “Spectral lines of stars absorb or emit light. You, Botts, emit light every time you enter into a room. You will do well in the Academy.”

So for us here at Los Angeles Southwest Sheriff’s Station, I feel we lost a bright star today and we will truly miss him. We love you, Guan… Till we meet again, Aloha ‘Oe!

IS THE DEPARTMENT DELAYING SECURITY OFFICERS IN BACKGROUND FOR DST?

Believe it or not, I’ve heard Department supervisors state that some of our fellow security officers are in backgrounds for DST but the Department wants more SOs hired before those in backgrounds can move forward — because, you know, vacancies can be challenging. So let’s hold the qualified candidates back (in a recruitment crisis, no less). Seriously? Executives are either unaware (unlikely) or don’t care how many former SOs and CAs are now wearing badges and uniforms for other agencies.